Flushing apparatus.



. PATBNTED JULY 7, 19oa. y H. P. NBUMBYBR. PLUSH-ING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 6, 1902.

l. :LT m ,/1/ 3 m w H0 MODEL.

the siphon during the discharging operation,

UNITED STATES 'Patented Juiyv, 190e.

PATENT OFFICE.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,776, dated July 7, 1903.

Application led November 6, 1902.'

To all whom t may concern.:

Beit known that I, HORACE FALK NEU MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Macungie,in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Flushing Apparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates'to that class of apparatus for flushing which includes a tank or reservoir from which water is siphoned, the supply of said water to the 'reservoir being controlled by a oat-valve.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel means for decreasing the water supply to the tank when the level of the water therein is lowered to the line of breaking so that said break will be insured, the cessation of discharge will be instantaneous, and as the tank again refills the supply thereto will increase in volume. I

A further object is to provide a supply that will be noiseless by having it beneaththe lowest level of the water and discharging downwardly into the tank. *A

A still further object is to provide a structure that is very simple, having no delicatelyadj usted parts liable to derangement and all the elements being so related and assembled that they may be readily reached for the purpose of repair or renewal.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and is described in the following specification. This embodiment, however, is open to various changes and modifications, as will beA evident by referring to the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure l is l a sectional view through a flushing-tank, showing the apparatus' in place therein. Fig. 2 is a sec-y tional view, on an enlarged scale, through the valve mechanism, illustrating the relation of the partswhen the valve is closed. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the valve open. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line x no of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the valve-stem, and'Fig. 6 is a crosssection through the same.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures of the drawings. f

Y In the embodiment shown the usual reser vSerial No. 130,337. (No model.)

voir or tank 10 is employed, having a siphondischarge mechanism, of which 11 designates the hood within which is located the usual siphon-pipe 12, having a vent 13 contiguous to its lower end, the Siphon-breakage line being shown at 14. These various elements being well known inthe art need no further description and in themselves form no part of the present invention, which relates more particularly to the water-supplying mechanism. This mechanism is preferably constructed as follows: An opening l5 is formed in the bottom of the tank, and through the same is passed a conduit-body 16, 'having at its upper end an outstanding head 17, which bears upon a washer 18, interposed between said head and the floor or bottom of the tank. The lower end of the body is threaded, as shown at 19, and a flanged clamping-nut 2O is screwed thereon and bears against the under face of the bottom. A suitable coupling -21 is also screwed upon the lower end ofthe body and constitutes a connection for the spur 22, to which is fastened the water-supply pipe. The body 16 has an enlarged bore in the -form of a chamber 23, the upper end thereof being contracted, as shown at 24, and an annular upstanding shoulder 25 projects above the upper face of the head 17 and surrounds the contracted bore.

Slidably mounted in thecontracted bore 24 is a valve-stem 26, having a reduced threaded shank 27 projecting from its upper end. A cap 28 is screwed upon the shank and comprises a crown 29,`upon the base of which is arranged an outstanding flange 30, carrying a depending annular rim 31. A bearingwasher 32, of leather or other suitable material, is arranged upon the shank 27 and fits within the rim 3l, the lower edge of said rim extending below the plane of the lower face of said washer. A metallic washer 33'is also arranged upon the shank below the bearingwasher 32, being interposed between the same and the upper end of the stem 26, said washer 33 being of less diameter thanthe stem,whereby an annular groove 34 is formed between the washer 32 and the upper end of the stem 26. The stem 26 is long enough to extend through the contracted bore 24 and project into the chamber 23 when the valve is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, and said stem is IOO Aprovided with longitudinal outlet-channels 35,that taper in width and depth toward their lower ends.

The outstanding head 17 of the conduitbody carries upwardly-extending ears 36, between and to the upper ends of which is pivoted a lever-arm 37 by means of a thumbscrew 38, passed through the ears and lever and threaded into one of said ears, as shown in Fig. e. This lever has an enlarged circular portion 39 arranged `concentric to the pivot 38 and disposed in the path of movement of the iiange 30 of the cap. It is also provided with a cam-finger 40, which is arranged to bear upon the top of the crown 29 of said cap, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The main arm of the lever 37 is provided at its upper or free end with a socket Lil, in which is itted one end of the float-rod 42, the other end being secured to the usual oat 43.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: Assuming the tank tilled, as shown in Fig. l, it will be evident that when the hood 1l is raised and reseated the siphon will be brought into action and the water thus withdrawn. As the level thereof lowers the float will of course sink, thus raising the cam-finger 40 from the cap of the valve. The pressure of water will thereupon immediately raise the valve and said water will pass through the outlet-channels 35 of the stem and fiow into the tank. As the level of the water continues to lower, the valvostem will be elevated more and more, so that the smaller ends of the channels 35 will finally be brought into the contracted bore 24, thereby decreasing the supply of water and reducing it to the minimum just as the line of siphon breakage is reached. This decrease will therefore insure a greateroutliow of water than influx, and the break will consequently be made certain. The siphon having been broken and the discharge instantly stopped, the tank will begin to refill slowly, and as the l'loat rises the larger portions of the channels will be gradually alined with the chamber 23, so that an increased volume of supply will be provided until the valve is again closed. This is an extremely ilnportant feature of the invention and is especially noteworthy because of the simplicity of the parts employed in obtaining the desired result. It will also be noted by reference to Fig. l that the valve is arranged below the lowest level of the water, and because of the depending rim 3l, which extends below the lower bearing-face of the washer 32, the discharge of water will be directed downwardly, so that the inrush will be noiseless. This noiseless movement is enhanced by the provision of the annular groove 3i, arranged at the outlet ends of the channels 35, for a freely-opened space of sufficient magnitude is thus provided to receive the water flowing through the channels. The arrangement of the parts upon the open upper end of the conduit-body is also advantageous. The lever-arm 37 is held in place by a thu nib-screw, which therefore can be readily removed when desired. This arm serves to hold the valve in place and yet permits its necessary movement. To remove said valve, it is therefore only necessary to detach the lever-arm, and the valve is so constructed that it may be readily taken apart, so that the bearing-washer when worn can be quickly replaced without the necessity of an expert plumber. Actual experience has proven that the apparatus will work equally well under varying pressures.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, audit will be understood that Various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In flushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having a passage-way therethrough, of a controlling-valve normally closing the passage-way and having a stem fitting therein, said stem being provided with an outlet-channel havin g cross-sectional areas of different sizes, the smaller portions of the channel being located farthest from the valve and arranged to restrict the passage ol water when said valve is opened.

2. In flushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having a passageway therethrough, of a controlling-valve normally closing the passageway and having a stem iitted therein, said stem being provided with an outletchannel that tapers toward its inner end and away from the valve, whereby the flow is more and more restricted as the valve is opened.

3. In fiushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having a passage-way therethrough, of a controlling-valve normally closing the passage-way and having a stem slidably fitted therein, said stem being provided with a plurality of longitudinally-disposed channels that taper away from the valve, whereby the iowis more and more restricted as the valve is opened.

4C. In fiushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having a passage-way therethrough, of a controlling-valve for the passage-way comprising a cap that fits upon the discharge end of the conduit, and a stem slidably mounted in said conduit and having an outlet-channel, said channel being provided with an enlarged portion arranged contiguous to the cap.

5. In iushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having a passage-way therethrough, of a controlling-valve for the passage-way comprising a cap that Iits upon the discharge end of the conduit and a stem IOC IOS

IIO

slidably mounted in said conduit and having a plurality ot longitudinally-disposed tapering channels, the larger ends of which are located contiguous to the cap,the smaller ends being movable into the ends ofthe conduit when the valve is opened to restrict the tiow of Water therethrough.

6. In flushing apparatus, the combination with a supply conduit having a chamber therein and a contracted bore, of a valve comprising a cap that lits upon the discharge end of the conduit and over the contracted bore, and a stem slidably mounted in the contracted bore and projecting into ,the chamber, said stem having an outlet-channel that is enlarged contiguous to the cap.

7. In flushing apparatus, the combination Wit-h a supply-conduit having a passage-way therethrough, of a valve comprisinga cap that tits upon the discharge end of the conduit and a stem slidably fitted in the passage-way and having an annular groove contiguous to the cap, said stem also having a plurality of channels that lead to'the groove.

8. In flushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having a passage-way therethrough, of a valve comprising a stem slidably mounted in the passage-way and having a longitudinally-disposed outlet-channel, a threaded shank projecting from the outer end of the same, a cap threaded upon the shank, a packing-washer arranged upon the shank and a holding-washer also iitted upon the shank and ot less diameter than the stem.

9. In fiushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having an upstanding discharge end, of a stem slidably mounted in one end of the conduit and havinga longitudinally-disposed outlet-channel and a cap secured to the upper end of the stem and having a bearing-face arranged to abut against the discharge end of the conduit and close the same, said cap having an annular depending rim that extends below the plane of the bearing-face and is arranged to direct`downwardly the water discharging from the conduit.

lO. In flushing apparatus, the combination with a supply-conduit having an upstanding 'and is arranged to direct downwardly the water discharging from the conduit.

11. In flushing apparatus, the combination with a conduit having its upper end open, of

a stem slidably mounted in said end, a cap carried by the stem and fitting upon the end of the conduit, said cap comprising a crown having an outstanding iiange, a float-controlled lever pivoted above the cap and .detached therefrom, saidlever having a'portion arranged in the path of movement of the Iiange and constitutinga stop to limit the movement of the valve, and a cam-linger carried by the lever and arranged to bear upon the crown.

12. In iiushing apparatus, the combination with a conduit body having its upper end openl and provided with an outstanding bearing-head having an annular shoulder surrounding the open end, of a stem slidably mounted in said end, a cap carried by the stem and bearing upon the shoulder of the conduit-body, said cap comprising a crown having an outstanding iange that is provided with a depending rim,.a iioat-controlled le-` ver pivoted above the cap and detached therefrom,l said lever having a portion arranged in the path of movement of the flange, and constituting a stop to limit the movement of the valve, and a cam-finger carried bythe 1ever and arranged to rest upon the crown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have .hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE FALK NEUMEYERQ Witnesses:

D. J. NAGLE, JOHN P. BOYER. 

